I know, right?! My heart swelled as I read Carter’s recent statement condemning “discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition.” A member of an organization called The Elders, Carter is devoted to advancing human rights and promoting peace and social justice. The empowerment of women and girls is a major component of The Elders’ work.

In 2000, Carter and his wife Rosalynn publicly distanced themselves from the Southern Baptist Convention, of which Carter had been a member for 65 years. At the time, he criticized the SBC’s “increasingly rigid creed” and said their policies – including a denominational statement instructing wives to be submissive to their husbands – violated the premises of his Christian faith.

He is still a practicing Christian, and acts as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher. His article in The Observer is powerful, it’s beautiful, and it’s brave.

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths.
…
This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.

Women’s rights are human rights. It’s amazing to read this in a mainstream publication, along with a denouncement of “tradition” as justification for oppression.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.

Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions – all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.

Amen. I respect Carter for letting his conscious guide him on his spiritual journey. I find it a bit problematic that he cites Biblical references to equality but admits that other passages espouse slavery and female subjugation. All that tells me is that the Bible, at least, is contradictory. Nonetheless, Carter’s commitment to equality is inspiring. Thank you, Jimmy Carter!

12 Responses to “Honorary Harpy: Jimmy Carter”

I think that Jimmy Carter has become my favorite still-living ex president. That a man his age can see the clear and undeniable truth in both religion and ‘tradition’ give me hope this morning. And way to publicly scold the SBC on their misogyny, Mr. Carter!

Jimmy lost some of my good opinion when he accused Israel of apartheid. There’s no doubt that Israel needs desperately to clean up its act with regard to Israeli Palestinians, but equating Israel with South Africa in its bad days is a gross overstatement. For me, his major weakness as a moral spokesman is his view of Israel from a conservative Christian viewpoint, which sees Israel as a stepping stone to the return of the Christian messiah. It’s not respectful to use people, and treating Israel as a means to an end (and an end to which we object) is pretty rude and unproductive.

Having said all that, my family worked hard for Jimmy’s election and we remain proud that we did so. We were even invited to the White House the day after the Inauguration! Jimmy is a remarkable, principled man who has never hesitated to do what he thinks is right, and we could use more of those in government. I’d vote for him again tomorrow.

One of our daughter’s proudest possessions is my old “Pittsburghers for Jimmy Carter” t shirt. I’d still wear one too if I had one that fit!

@mischiefmanager: Yeah, I know a lot of people in the Jewish community who were furious with Jimmy Carter for that book (including all the clergy at my synagogue, who practically sat shiva for him after that). I agree that “apartheid” is too strong a word, but I like that he called Israel out on some of its more egregious hypocrisy and human rights problems. It was the first time that someone from the Christian evangelical community stood up and said both to Israel and to their evangelical fanclub, “Hey guys, this is NOT cool.”

Did it constitute treating Israel as a means to an end? Probably. I don’t know any evangelical Christians who don’t feel that way about Israel. Or any Jews or Muslims for that matter.

Carter is excellent proof that sometimes* the weakest Presidents are the more admirable of the men who have filled the office. I highly recommend the book The Unfinished Presidency by Douglas Brinkley about Carter’s post-Presidency years. Given the crucial role that public declarations of Christianity have been in national politics for the past few decades, I think it’s all the more commendable for Carter to take this stance. I can’t see Bush 43 ever standing up to any denomination of Christianity in the way Carter did with the SBC.

Aww I grew up on the narrative that Carter was our best president since Kennedy. My religious mother LOVED when he said he had committed adultery “in his heart.” I will say, the man is pro life, but seems to understand the problematics of it more than almost any other pro life person I can think of. He’s a beautiful man, a true servant of humanity. I’m not sure that his work on Israel/Palestine issues is connected to an apocalyptic vision as it is for some conservative Christians. My understanding was that those Christians tend to support the militarization of Israel and its efforts to expand and solidify its power in the region uncompromisingly. Whatever you think of Carter’s position on those issues, I think they are coming from a genuine place of concern for human rights.

@BeckySharper: No, I don’t think that Jews see Israel as a means to an end. For all the Jews I know, it’s an end in and of itself. For the right wing, there are scriptural reasons why the existence of Israel is a necessity; for the rest of who support the state’s existence, there are historical and cultural reasons.

Ultimately, though, Israelis, like any other group, are going to have to change themselves. No one else can do it for them or pressure them into doing it. But as far as I’m concerned, they are a Jewish state in name only, given the immoral acts the state perpetrates in the name of Judaism. The problem with Jimmy’s statement was that it only exacerbates the defensiveness that produces stupid, bigoted policy.

@soalg: Isn’t is funny that Democratic former presidents (and at least one vp) are out there trying to change the world for the better, and Republican ones spent/spend their time riding horses, playing golf and jumping out of airplanes-until Uncle Bill shames Bush I into doing something with some actual impact. Gotta love that compassionate conservatism.

I’m so glad you mentioned this column, I read it on Sunday and thought it was incredible. I will also admit that in the past I have been guilty of dismissing Carter, for no real reason, and his piece made me feel ashamed of having done so.

I love Jimmy Carter. I went to Emory, and every year he comes and speaks to the freshman class there. His speech to my class was both tender and inspiring. He tied together his love of his wife and kids and his love of his country.
He may not have been the most effective president, but he is a hell of an effective international statesman.

[...] While I read other books this month, I’m picking this one in part because of its subject. SarahMC wrote about Carter’s statements on women’s rights, and it was heartening to read a great deal [...]